Tucson Leaders Ask for Immigration Reform

Story by Zachary Ziegler

last updated November 22, 2013

A group of prominent Tucsonans gathered Thursday to sign a letter asking Congress and President Barack Obama for immigration reform policy.

The group, which included Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ramon Valadez, also asked others in Phoenix, Yuma and Sedona to ask Washington to take up on the issue again.

“[Congress is] not doing a service to the country," Valadez said. “They’re not doing a service to American citizens. They need to either step aside or get a reality check, and that’s what this is about.”

The issue is taxing people across all walks in Arizona. Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor said he believes the inactivity on the federal level is taxing local law enforcement.

“We’re the ones carrying the brunt of this problem now because of inactivity on the federal level,” Villaseñor said. “It drives the state to try and do something about it.”

Many at the event said they believed that the stagnation of immigration reform is hurting local business.

“I want them to know that we in the business community are insisting on some action because it’s not good for our community, it’s not good for this environment,” said local businessman Don Diamond. “I don’t know all the answers, but lets get started every day like we do in the business world.”

Immigration reform legislation is currently stalled in Congress. House leadership has said it will not take up the issue this year due to a lack of time.

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